Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive) dam
Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive)
Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive) is a man-made reservoir located in Montgomery, Maryland, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Built in 1992, the earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet, serving as a vital component in managing the Muddy Branch-TR watershed. The dam's spillway, with a width of 5 feet, is uncontrolled, ensuring the safe release of excess water during periods of high flow.
With a surface area of 1.5 acres and a drainage area of 0.48 square miles, Lake Varuna plays a crucial role in supporting fish and wildlife habitats in addition to its flood control function. Despite its low hazard potential and satisfactory condition assessment as of August 2016, the dam undergoes regular inspections every 5 years to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness. Managed by local government authorities, Lake Varuna demonstrates how infrastructure can serve multiple purposes, blending environmental conservation with flood risk management in a sustainable manner.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts will appreciate Lake Varuna's contribution to the local ecosystem and its role in mitigating flood risks in the region. As part of the broader network of dams and reservoirs managed by Maryland Dam Safety, Lake Varuna exemplifies the importance of proactive risk management and infrastructure maintenance in safeguarding communities and natural resources against the impacts of changing climate patterns. Whether observing wildlife, studying hydrological dynamics, or analyzing risk assessments, Lake Varuna offers a fascinating case study in the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Seneca Creek At Dawsonville | 38 cfs | → |
| Difficult Run Near Great Falls | 11 cfs | → |
| Nw Branch Anacostia River Near Colesville | 3 cfs | → |
| Hawlings River Near Sandy Spring | 6 cfs | → |
| Broad Run Near Leesburg | 18 cfs | → |
| Patuxent River Near Unity | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive).
Boat launches
- Clarksburg Road Germantown
- Rileys Lock Road Darnestown
- Potomac Hills Street Fairfax County
- Edwards Ferry Road Montgomery County
- Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Frederick County
- Ashburn Village Boulevard 20585, Lansdowne
Campgrounds
- Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campsite
- Little Bennett Regional Park
- Marsden Tract Group Campsite
- Little Bennett Campground
- Horsepen Branch Campsite
- Horsepen Branch
Track Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive) in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive)
Where does the data for Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive) come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lake Varuna (Lakelands Drive).